I read this enlightening post yesterday on CSA2 and thought I'd comment and
investigate on it for the needs of our GS WorldView visitors.

Rumors from Delphi seem to hold little merit these days but, WE SHALL SEE !

MacProber
GS WorldView Editor

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Sequential Systems
From: Liam Busey <liam1@ix.netcom.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 21:36:19 -0400
Organization: Netcom
Lines: 12
Message-ID: <37D9B213.4B29@ix.netcom.com>
Reply-To: liam1@ix.netcom.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: vna-va18-12.ix.netcom.com
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-NETCOM-Date: Fri Sep 10  8:36:53 PM CDT 1999
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0C-NC320  (Win95; I)

The word on Delphi is that Sequential Systems is getting out of the
Apple II hardware buisness. They're going to make one more batch of
Ramfasts as soon as they get 200 orders. Sequential will also make
another run of Second Sights if they can get 200 pre-orders. Once
they're sold out that's it. 

I'd suggest that anyone who wants one of these cards place their order
ASAP. Seeing as noone picked up the rights to produce the ZipGS or the
TurboRez this is probably your last chance to purchase a new Ramfast or
Second Sight. 

Liam Busey

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, Liam, after reading your post above, I did some investigation on this
post with my own telephone call to Sequential Systems and here's what I found
out.

GS WorldView Rumors, Facts, News and TidBits

Copyright © 1999 By MacProber and GS WorldView

FACT:
Sequential Systems is no longer Sequential Systems and no longer offers any
support for Apple II and IIgs products.  That's indeed a big bummer to hear and
I don't enjoy relating such bad news. But, it's a sad fact we must all realize
and learn to deal with. 

When I called Sequential Systems yesterday to inquire about buying the Second
Sight and RamFAST card, I was promptly informed by the man answering, that they
no longer carry either of the cards. He advised me the stock of both cards were
sold out and they have no plans to make more. Likewise, I was enlightened they
are not Sequential Systems any longer. And, the man on the phone was surprised
and rather befuddled as to why any Apple IIgs items were still listed on their
website.

A subsequent call I made today to Sequential Systems yeilded this interesting
response. I was informed by another man (no name given) that Sequential Systems
had neither the Second Sight or RamFAST card in stock but, because Sequential
Systems was devoted to the needs of the Apple II users they would have both
available in stock within the next week and if I wanted either I should place my
order now, because when these cards, which they expected to be available next
week (but, are not really sure if they will even be available then) are sold,
they will have no more made or available.

From my past knowledge and experience with Sequential Systems and their inablity
to provide orders as promissed, I declined placing an order for either card.
BTW, I've purchased both cards in the past from used sources via the Usenet
comp.system.apple2.markerplace newsgroup. So, having both cards already for my
own needs, I only made the two calls to confirm what Sequential Systems is
really up to with respect to their offering both cards to the public via retail
sales and ordering protocal. I might add, I wasn't at all impressed with their
current ordering protocal and standard customer ordering information that they
related to me either. 

From my own past experience and also feedback from others about Sequential
Systems with regard to ordering these two cards, receiving them in defective
states, returning them for replacement and receiving no replacement or refund to
the customers satisfaction, I'd advise the readers of this article to BEWARE and
use your own best judgement, if you do place and order with Sequential Systems
for either the Second Sight or RamFAST card, at this point in time as rumored to
be made available in stock next week. The conflicting information I've obtained
from the two telephone conversations in the past few days from Sequential Systems
just don't cut it with me.

Now, it certainly appears this is 'officially' the death of the Second Sight card
and the RamFAST card as well. I state this is "officially" as both are no longer
manufactured or offered for sale. Although, as I see it, both of the cards had
'unofficially' met their death several years ago after Sequential Systems kept
refusing to fix the bugs and problems with these cards and with ignoring their
employment obligations to keep the cards programmer, Jawaid on their staff, they
both 'unofficially' met their death when Jawaid left Sequential Systems for
several valid and justifiable reasons, that he made clear to many people in the
Apple II community.


Sequential Systems continued to refused with any form of finalizing the beta
firmware versions or with any form of updates that were offered to them. Add to
this Sequential Systems completely ignoring all offers from several other
outside programmers to rewrite the cards firmware and make updates with
improvements for free. This attitude of refusing and ignoring such offers in
turn, created a stagnant situation where both developers and users alike were no
longer interested in providing any support for the Second Sight card with any
program rewrites, releases or purchases of the card.

It seems very unlikely and remote, with the card out of stock and no longer in
production ??? that anything more will ever become of it. Again, sadly it
appears the Second Sight card becomes just one more discontinued hardware
chapter in our Apple II history. Another video hardware card that never really
made its own potentials or successful status with the public. Like the
SuperSprite 16 and several other Apple II video cards that once were available
with limited production, sales and use, that are no more... we unfortunately now
say goodbye to the Second Sight card too. It was a promissing Apple II video
card that for many reasons failed to find the success it could have obtained,
offering too little to late and just faded away from the publics interest.

Thus, with the final exit of Sequential Systems, (if such is indeed the case)
the RamFAST SCSI, RAM GS, RAM GS Plus and Second Sight cards have all finally
joined the list of defunct, soon to be rare and hard to find Apple II hardware.

Perhaps, those that want to upgrade their Apple II and IIgs systems, will have
to turn to the remaining hardware retailers like Alltech and SHH Systems for
their needs or else search out the various other Apple II and IIgs used cards
and hardware sources as they are offered for sale, auction and trade. These
appear to be all the options available to us now.